Introduction 

You've definitely viewed some YouTube videos and thought, "I could do that," if you're anything like me. Then you might decide to attempt filming your own video, but when you really appear in front of the camera and begin speaking, things don't go so smoothly, which makes you think to yourself like, What in the heck should I have said?, how can I improve the entertainment value of this video? and what happens if no one likes it? and so on and so on. These are all crucial questions, but there are also certain considerations you should make before beginning to film your first video. In this post, we'll outline five straightforward techniques for becoming at ease in front of the camera, regardless of whether it's your first time.


Take your time to prepare.

The first step to preparing for a video is to have a script in hand. This can be as simple as bullet points, or as complex as an entire document. You may not use the whole script in your final video, but having it will help you stay on track and keep you from rambling.

It's also extremely important that you practice reading your lines out loud before recording them and the main two reasons for this is one, that it gives you a chance to sound out the words and make sure they're how you want them to sound; two is so that you know how long each line should take when spoken out loud. Having a sense of timing will make it easier for viewers and more importantly, yourself to follow along with what's happening in the video.


Think about using a tripod

A tripod is a fantastic tool to have, especially if you're filming a video. If your camera has the option of attaching one, that's even better. An important thing to keep in mind when using a tripod is that it's not just there so the footage looks smooth and professional; it also allows you to adjust your angle without worrying about shaking the camera as much. In fact, if your hands are shaking at all, even if it’s just slightly, this will show up on film because of how long it takes for light rays from moving objects like our eyes or fingers, which contain lots of water to reach our brains. That means we see things far away more clearly than things that are closer up and because most people tend to look down when talking into a camera lens, this means that anything above their heads will look blurry unless they have some kind of support system like a stand or wall mount.


Use a camera you're comfortable with.

If you are using a camera for the first time, it is best to try this out in a safe place without people watching. If you do not have access to a camera or someone who can help you, then use your phone and record yourself with just audio. When you are ready to go live on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram videos then make sure that they look good by choosing the right lighting and framing skills.

Choose cameras that are easy to use and understand because they will definitely help with your comfort level when talking into them. Remember that even though this may seem like an intimidating thing at first but once you get the hang of it, there is no reason why one cannot talk into their own camera confidently.


Look directly into the camera.

This is one of the most important things to do while you are recording yourself on camera it will help with your comfort level and also help viewers see that you are being genuine and it can be difficult for some people at first, but once you get used to it there is no reason why this cannot be done with ease.

Now some creators tend to look at themselves rather than the camera and this is a huge mistake because to the viewer it will not appear that you are actually looking at them and this is common when they use their phones or a flip-out camera that pretty much forces them to look at themselves because they are usually more focused on how they look rather than looking down the lens and that's when you can end up losing the connection with your viewers.


Remember that you're talking to people and not a camera.

You're not just talking to the camera, you're talking to people. That's why it's so important to remember that you're not just on camera, you're on camera for a purpose and you need your viewers and listeners and you want to think about why they would want to watch or listen to what you have to say. If it's something boring or uninteresting, then no one will care about what you have to say, even if it's the most important message in the world.

So don't fret over the fact that there is a camera in front of you, focus on what YOU have planned for this video and when possible, try practicing beforehand so that when cameras roll during filming day, things go smoothly. If possible, even practice with some friends who can give feedback and help make sure everything looks good before hitting the record button.


Don't worry about looking perfect.

You can't control what you look like, so don't worry about it. You can't control what you sound like, so don't worry about that either you.

You can't control whether or not people will pay attention to your video, or when they'll watch it; but if they do watch and get something from it, even just a smile, then that's great and even better if they come back later in life and find some wisdom in your words, which is a possibility.

I think this last part is really important: the more genuine we are with ourselves and others on camera, the more our message will be heard by other people who are watching us speak confidently in there through the camera lens.

Conclusion

Whether it's your first time or your hundredth, talking into a camera is intimidating. The good news is that there are plenty of tips and tricks out there for people like us who want to improve their skills but don't know where to start by taking advantage of these tips and practicing them regularly until they become second nature, anyone can become comfortable speaking in front of this seemingly judgmental device and we hope this article has helped you feel more confident about talking into the camera.